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CHRISTIAN ZEN TEACHERS: A List in Progress

CHRISTIAN ZEN TEACHERS: A List in Progress

Last updated on: November 9, 2025 at 8:08 am by James Ford

CHRISTIAN ZEN TEACHERS: A List in Progress 2025-11-09T08:08:04-08:00 James Ford

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CHRISTIAN ZEN TEACHERS

A List in Progress

Draft update November 9, 2025

There are an increasing number of people who are living within a meeting of Zen and Christianity. What this means is far from clear. But at the same time it is a living reality.

A lot, perhaps most participants are doing this in informal ways. A powerful example is my friend Robert Jonas, known as Jonas to his friends. He has managed to avoid various ordinations along the way, but is a highly respected spiritual director within the Christian tradition. And at the same time has undertaken years of practice in shakuhachi as a Zen discipline, as well as with more conventionally understood Zen practice. The list of these academics, spiritual directors, and others continues to grow.

And, among these, some have more formal backgrounds and authorizations.

The following is a list of people who I have identified at least tentatively, as authorized Zen teachers in some generally acknowledged lineage who also in some significant way consider themselves Christian.

I am soliciting corrections and additions to this list, as well as for a somewhat larger list of those like Jonas who are important in this liminal moment.

In addition to deletions and additions, I hope for birth dates and if appropriate death dates, as well as what Christian denomination they may be affiliated with, if any, and if they’re clergy noting that, as well. Where they teach is also helpful. I also have some gaps in the names from whom they received authorizations. Any help will be deeply appreciated

Thank you

James Ishmael Ford

[email protected]

Abels, Gregory Hosho – Robert Kennedy 2006 US

Abels, Janet Jiryu – Robert Kennedy n.d. US

Achatz, Francesca Koysen Bodaiga – Stephan Bauberger 2008

Averbeck, Marcus Hozan – Patrick Eastman 2014 UK

Bachman, Carl Genjo – Robert Kennedy 2010 US

Barragato, Margaret – Mui Barragato n.d. US

Battung Rosario B Jochi-an – 1943, RC, Helen Macinnes n.d. Philippines

Bauberger, Stephan – 1960, RC Society of Jesus Ama Samy 2004, Germany

Beneate, Joe – Ruben Habito n.d. US

Birx, Charles Shinkai – 1944, RC ordained Deacon, Robert Kennedy 1998/2014 US

Birx, Ellen Jikai – 1950, Lutheran, Robert Kennedy 1998/2014 US

Blackman, Bruce Seiryu – 1942, Janet Richardson n.d. US

Boutselis, Mary – Dai-en Bennage n.d.

Brantschen, Niklaus Goun-Ken Jinshu – 1937, RC, Society of Jesus, Koun Yamada 1999/Bernard Glassman nd Switzerland

Burgess-Michak, Courtney Gessho – Judy Weintraub n.d.

Butler, Tim Tomei – Robert Kennedy 2015 US

Cabotaje, Alice – 1960, Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) minister, Greg Mayers 2019, US

Carlsten, Thorbjörn – Evert Sundien n.d. Sweden

Cicetti, Raymond Ruzan – 1950, Robert Kennedy 2004 US

Collande, Cornelius – Willigis Jaeger

Collingwood, Chris Ryushin – Patrick Eastman 2016

Cortes, Helen – Ruben Habito 2006, US

Craig, Barbara Shoshin – 1932, RC Religious Sisters of Mercy, Janet Richardson n.d. US

Daniels, Michele Keido – Raymond Cicetti 2018 US

Dietrich, William Ji An – 1949, Quaker, Rose Mary. Dougherty 2015, US

Dougherty, Rose Mary Myoan – 1939-2019, RC School Sisters of Notre Dame, Janet Richardson 2006, US

Drosten, Rolf – Protestant minister, Robert Aikten, Germany

Eastman, Patrick Kundo – Anglican priest later RC priest, Robert Kennedy 2009/2014 UK

Efird, Susan KoDo – Lutheran, Robert Kennedy 2018 US

Enomiya-Lassalle, Hugo Makibi Aiun-ken – 1898-1990, RC Society of Jesus, Koun Yamada n.d. Japan

Ericsson, Gustav – Lutheran pastor, Gudo Nishijima

Falcone, Anthony Hoetsu – 1949, Janet Richardson/Barbara Craig 2016, US

Fischer, Johannes Bodhi Ken – former Jesuit, Ama Samy 2013

Ford, James Ishmael Zeno Myoun – 1948, Unitarian minister, Jiyu Kennett/John Tarrant 1971/2005, US

Forstman, Valerie Meiko-an – Yamada Ryoun n.d. US

Gallagher, Patrick – RC, Elaine MacInnes

Gamma, Anna Myoan Kanzeon Maria – Pia Gyger/Brantschen n.d. Switzerland

Gates, Mary Keido Sho’un – 1954, Episcopal priest, Douglas Phillips 2022 US

Gunn, Robert Kaku – died 2020, UCC minister, Enkyo O’Hara

Gyger, Pia Ichido Jinji – 1940-2014, RC, Robert Aitken/Bernard Glassman 1996/1999 Switzerland

Habito, Ruben L. F. Keiun-Ken – 1947, RC former Jesuit, Koun Yamada n.d. US

Hawk, Patrick Seisho Shin’un – 1942-2012, RC Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, Robert Aitken 1989, US

Healy, Miriam Yukan – Robert Kennedy 2014 Ireland

Hebb, John Joho – 1952, Janet Richardson/Barbara Craig 2016, US

Hencke, Jan Jinrin – 1961, Ellen & Charles Birx 2021

Holleran, Michael Koryu – RC priest, former Carthusian, Robert Kennedy 2009 US

Hooper, Carl Bodhi Ken – 1943, Ama Samy 2013, Australia

Hunt, Kevin Jiyun – 1933, RC Trappist, Robert Kennedy 2004US

Jaeger, Willigis Koun-Ken – 1925, Koun Yamada n.d. Germany

James, ZhiSin Pollyann – Barbara Craig n.d.

Kadowaki, Kakichi – RC, Society of Jesus, Omori Sogen n.d.

Kennedy, Robert Jinsen – 1933, RC Society of Jesus, Bernard Glassman 1991/1997 US

Laheen, Mary Soshin – Robert Kennedy 2019 US?

Langdell, Tim – Independent Catholic, Paul Lynch/Seth Dennis/Al Rapaport/Daiho Hilbert US

Lee, Lola McDowell — Henry Chikuen Kugai Platov US

Liesenfeld, Bruno – RC priest, Klaus von Wansleben

Lüderitz, Gert – Ama Samy 2016, Germany?

Macinnes, Elaine Koun-an – RC nun, 1924, Koun Yamada n.d., Canada

Maher, Carl Chimon – Robert Kennedy n.d. US?

Maher, Monica Prajnatara – UCC minister, Robert Kennedy 2018 Equador

Marcel, Leonard – 1942, Patrick Hawk 2001, US

Marinello, Genjo – Buddhist-Quaker, Eido Shimano n.d. US

Matthias, Stefan – 1955, Protestant pastor Stephan Bauberger 2009

Mathew, Cyril Jnana Bodhi Ken – RC Society of Jesus, Ama Samy 2004, India

Mayers, Greg – RC, priest, Willigis Jaeger 2010

McQuaide, Rosalie Jishin – RC Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, Janet Richardson n.d. US

Meyer, Gundula Zuiun-an – 1937, Protestant minister, Koun Yamada N.d. Germany

Michel, Russell Kaishin – 1948, Episcopal, Robert Kennedy 2021

Migaku, Sato – 1948, Ji’un Kubota

Montecel, Maria “Cuca” Kosen Robledo – Robert Kennedy 2015/2020 US?

Nail, Lee Ann Kanren-an – Ruben Habito 2012, US

Neudecker, Rene – Willigis Jaeger n.d., Germany?

Palmiter, Martine Taikai – 1958, active lay member, UCC, RoseMary Dougherty 2019, US

Parks, David – UCC minister, John Tarrant n.d. US

Paszkiewicz, Joshua Sunyananda – Independent Catholic, Al Rapaport 2019 US

Perlas, Antonio – 1938-2002, Helen Macinnes n.d. Philippines

Pineda, Maria Teresa Myoun-An – 1942 Helena Macinnes n.d. Philippines

Pliske, Angela – 1937, Ama Samy 2009, Czech Republic

Potz, Alice Denko – Robert Kennedy 2021

Reis-Habito, Maria Getsu’un-an –

Rieck, Joan – one time Maryknoll Sister

Richardson, Janet Jinne – RC Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, Robert Kennedy 1994/1997 US

St Onge, Timothy Mangetsu – 1952, RC?, Kevin Hunt 2018 US

Samy, Ama Genun-Ken – 1936, RC Society of Jesus, Koun Yamada? N.d., India

Schubert, Paul Seiko – Robert Kennedy 2007 US

Senécal, Bernard Seo Myeongweon – 1953, RC Society of Jesus, Korean Sōndohoe lineage 2007

Semmler-Koddenbrock, Winfried – RC priest

Seul, Jeff Kogen – 1962, Kevin Hunt 2018

Snela, Bogdan Hi’shin-ken – Willigis Jaeger n.d., Germany?

Strelcyk, Olaf Muyo-ju Bodhi Ken – Ama Samy 2019

Strong, Nona – Greg Mayers 2019

Sullivan, Edward Sangetsu – 1951, Janet Richardson/Barbara Craig 2014, US

Sundien, Evert

Taberner, Cynthia Kin Ryu – Kevin Hunt 2017 US

Tackitt, Tony – Greg Mayers 2019

Tacy, Madeleine Seikai – RC Order of Preachers (Dominican) nun, Kevin Hunt 2018

Tamayo-Moraga, Sarita – Darlene Cohen

Viggiani, Carl Chimon – Robert Kennedy n.d.

Wagner, Ann Ankai – 1940, Catholic? Ordained? Paul Genki Kahn n.d. US

Walter, Wolfgang E’un-ken – Willigis Jaeger n.d., Germany?

Wansleben, Klaus – Willigis Jaeger n.d., Germany

Weimar, Susan – Patrick Hawk n.d., US

Weintraub, Judy Dong Jen – Barbara Craig

Wobeser-Hopfner, Inge Eigen von – Robert Kennedy 2008

Wolbert, Randy – Greg Mayers 2021

Woodcock, Jeremy Ryokan – Patrick Eastman 2015 UK

Yee, Amy Enhai – Robert Kennedy 2019

Zölls, Doris Myoen-an – Willigis Jaeger n.d., Germany

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